EARTH CITY, Mo.—So far, Cortland Finnegan has been everything Jeff Fisher and the St. Louis Rams hoped he would be, and everything you'd expect from a high-priced free agent.

Finnegan has made big plays—including two interceptions—and with rare exception has been a sure tackler. The Rams move him around on defense, including some snaps in slot coverage. They've had him cover tight ends and drop back in coverage.

Occasionally, he'll line up near the line of scrimmage almost like a safety, and he's an effective blitzer. And, of course, he remains an effective “agitator” on the field, excelling at getting opposing receivers unraveled and getting them out of their game. When he shoved Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan late in Sunday’s game, Morgan retaliated by throwing the ball at Finnegan and drew a 15-yard penalty that led to a 62-yard missed field goal attempt.

Beyond that, Finnegan is a leader in the locker room and the meeting room with a young cornerback corps and the defense as a whole. His intense personality has spilled over to his teammates on defense. So far, the five-year, $50 million contract he signed appears to be money well spent.

Richardson a find

The Rams appear to have a late-round nugget in rookie running back Daryl Richardson, a seventh-round draft pick from Abilene Christian. Richardson plays bigger than his size (5-10, 196) with a one-cut and go style.

He's not shy about running between the tackles. And he has a big-play burst, as evidenced by his 53-yard run against Washington. After years of trying, the Rams might finally have their change-of-pace back behind Steven Jackson.